Succinamides

ABSTRACT

THE INVENTION COMPRISES SUCCINAMIDE DERIVATIVES WHICH ARE USEFUL AS PLANT GROWTH REGULANTS.

United States Patent 3,632,646 SUCCINAMIDES Howard A. Hageman, Southbury, Arthur H. Gevirtz, New Haven, and Bogislav von Schmeling, Hamden, Conn., assignors to Uniroyal, Inc., New York, N.Y. No Drawing. Filed May 25, 1967, Ser. No. 641,161 Int. Cl. C07c 103/32 US. Cl. 260-559 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention comprises succinamide derivatives which are useful as plant growth regulants.

This invention relates to new compounds and their use as plant growth regulants.

The compounds of the invention may be represented by the formula:

wherein R and R may be an alkyl group having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, or, along with the nitrogen, form a non-aromatic heterocyclic ring, such as, l-pyrrolidyl, l-piperidyl or 4-morpholinyl; and R and R may be hydrogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, or compositely, along with the nitrogen atom, form a nonaromatic heterocyclic ring. Furthermore, where R, is hydrogen, R may also be hydroxyalkyl, aminoalkyl, amino, RNHCO- where R is hydrogen or a lower alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or where R is an aryl or substituted aryl group wherein the aryl group is phenyl or naphthyl and the substitutions may be from 1 to 3 halogen, lower alkoxy, phenoxy, lower alkyl, aryl cyano, carboxyl, hydroxyl or nitro groups. The preferred substituents being those which are orthopara directors and substituted at the ortho and para positions.

Examples of R and R are: methyl, isopropyl, isobutyl, octyl, dodecyl, and compositely R and R represent tetramethylene, pentamethylene and B-oxydiethylene. Examples of R are hydroxypropyl, N-dimethylamino ethyl, 2- naphthyl, 2-iodophenyl, 2-isopropylphenyl, 4 methoxyphenyl, 2 chloro 6-methylphenyl, 2,4-dichlorophenyl, 2 dimethylaminophenyl, 2 hydroxyphenyl, 2-cyanophenyl, 2-carbomethoxyphenyl, 2-acetoxyphenyl.

The compounds of the present invention may be prepared by either of two methods. The first involves preparation through the imide by reaction with an equimolar amount of amine or hydrazine using an inert solvent e.g. benzene, acetonitrile.

O 0 R1 l om-( iNnN 0112- R1 RaRrNH R2 R CH2C/ m 3 1 CHz-C-N 0 ll When R R NH is considerably less basic than R R NNH (difier by an order of magnitude) this procedure requires unduly long reaction periods even with excess R R NH. In these cases the following procedure is preferable. In this procedure the N-R substituted imide is prepared according to procedures known to those experienced in the art. This imide is then reacted with the desired hydrazine.

The amount of hydrazine required is dependent upon the nature of R and may vary from equimolar amounts to a 3 fold excess. The reaction may be carried out without any solvent or in any inert solvent, such as acetonitrile, or benzene. The preferred solvents being those in which the imide is at least slightly soluble. The reaction time varies from 3 hours to 1 day depending upon the nature Of R1R2NNH2 and R3.

EXAMPLE I N-dimethylaminosuccinamide To 7.1 g. (.05 mole) of N-dimethylaminosuccinimide of M.P. 5657 C. were added 10 g. of 27% aqueous ammonia. The mixture was agitated and after a few minutes the solid dissolved; thereafter the solution rapidly set to a mass of white crystals. After adding 10 ml. of ethanol, the mixture was heated to 65 C. causing complete solution of the solid. Upon cooling this solution in an ice bath there precipitated 5.0 g. of N-dimethylaminosuccinamide as white crystals of M.P. 192-193 C.

EXAMPLE II N-dimethylamino-N'-phenylsuccinamide To 17.5 g. (.10 mole) of N-phenylsuccinimide of M.P. ISO-153 C. were added 30 g. (.50 mole) of 1,1-dimethylhydrazine. After 18 hours of refluxing a clear solution had formed. Upon removal of the excess dimethylhydrazine by distillation, the residue set to a white, crystalline solid. After slurrying with ether and collecting the solid by filtration, 22.5 g. (96%) of colorless crystals of M.P. 154156 C. were obtained. When mixed with a sample of N-phenylsuccinimide a melting range of 128- 136 C. was obtained. Upon recrystallization from acetonitrile colorless crystals of M.P. 154156 C. were obtained.

EXAMPLE III N-dimethylamino-N'-methylcarbamylsuccinamide By reacting succinamide with methylisocyanate there was prepared N-methylcarbamylsuccinamide of M.P. 153155 C. (d). To a mixture of 15.6 g. (.10 mole) of this compound and 40 g. of acetonitrile was added 6.0 g. .10 mole) of 1,1-dimethy1hydrazine. After keeping the resulting solution at room temperature for 15 minutes there formed a crystalline precipitate. After standing for an additional 1 hour this mixture was cooled in an ice bath. Filtration gave 13 g. of white crystals of M.P. 172174 C. A sample recrystallized from acetonitrile gave M.P. 177-179" C.

EXAMPLE IV N-dimethylamino-N-( 2-ch1orophenyl) succinamide (A) To 10.5 g. (0.05 moles) of N-(2-chlorophenyl) succinimide, M.P. 112' C., was added 20 mi. (15.6 g. 0.26 moles) of 1,1-dimethylhydrazine. The mixture was refluxed overnight. The solid was filtered to yield 8.3 g.

A representative list of compounds prepared by these methods and representative of compounds of the present invention are shown in Table I. All give infrared spectra with two strong bands or one broad band in the 6.0-6.2,u region indicative of amides and hydrazides.

or aqueous spray with an application rate of 1.0 to 100 pounds per acre.

The chemicals of the invention are eifective growth regulants and are particularly useful for retarding the vegetative growth of plants by shortening their internodes. The growth regulant activity of the chemicals is of particular interest in connection with retardation of vegetative growth of fruit trees without decreasing fruit size. Furthermore, the activity of these chemicals is of interest for producing other beneficial effects on fruit such as color, stop-drop, prolonged harvesting period, increased storageability, overcoming juvenility and return blossoming. Another beneficial growth regulant effect of interest in connection with retardation of vegetative plant growth is inducing resistance to frost, smog, drought and salinity.

The effectiveness of the chemicals of the present invention as plant growth regulants is illustrated in the TABLE I Analysis (percent) Calculated Found Empirical R R R R4 M.P. C. formula C H N Cl C H N 01 Methyl Methyl Orthohlorophenyl Hydrogen 148-51 CrzHreNaOzCl 53.43 5.93 15.62 13.16 53.68 6.14 15.75 12.97 Methyl Methyl Phenyl Hydrogen 155-56 C12H11N3O .26 7.28 17.86 61.22 Methyl Methyl Hydrogen Hydrogen 195-7 CsHmNsOz 45.27 8.23 Methyl Methyl Ortho- Hydrogen 137-8 CuHmNsOa 60.20 7.58

ethoxyphenyl. Methyl Methyl ethyl Methyl 73-4 CsHnNaOz 51.32 9.15

Pentamethylene Ortho-chlorophenyl Hydrogen 179-80 CrsHzoNsOzCl 58.14 6.51

ethyl Methyl Ortho-fluorophenyl Hydrogen 1315-325 C HwNaozF Methyl Methyl Ethyl Hydrogen Methyl Methyl Hydroxyethyl Hydrogen Methyl Methyl N-dimetlhylamino- Hydrogen p py- Methyl Methyl Amino Hydrogen Methyl Methyl Ortho-tolyl Hydrogen Methyl Methyl Para-tolyl Hydrogen Methyl Methyl Para-ethoxyphenyl Hydrogen Methyl Methyl Meta-chlorophenyl Hydrogen Methyl Methyl Para-chlorophenyl Hydrogen Methyl Methyl 2,6-dichlorophenyl Hydrogen Methyl Methyl Para- Hydrogen hydroxyphenyl. Methyl Methyl Alpha-naphthyl Hydrogen Methyl Methyl Ortho-nitrophenyl Hydrogen Methyl Methyl Ortho-bromophenyl Hydrogen The chemicals of the present invention may be applied to plants, which term includes various plant parts such as seeds, flowers, fruits, vegetables, roots and foliage in various manners. Seeds may be treated directly with the chemical by incorporating the chemical in the soil before or after planting the seeds. The chemicals may be applied to plants in an inert medium as dust in admixture with a powdered solid carrier, such as the various mineral silicates, e.g., mica, talc, pyrophyllite and clays or as an aqueous composition. The chemicals may be applied in admixture with small amounts of surface-active wetting agents, which may be anionic, non-ionic, or cationic surface-active agents, generally as aqueous compositions. The chemicals may be dissolved in organic solvents such as acetone, and the solutions of the chemicals emulsified in water with the aid of surface-active agents. Such surface-active agents are well known and reference is made to U.S. Pat. No. 2,547,724, columns 3 and 4 for detailed examples of the same. The chemicals of the invention may be admixed with powdered solid carriers, such as mineral silicates, together with a surface-active agent so that a wettable powder may be obtained which may be applied directly to plants, or which may be shaken up with water for application to the plants in that form.

As a foliar spray the chemicals may be applied to growing plants at a rate of 0.01 to 10 pounds per acre. Such application is generally as an aqueous spray which also contains as note above, a surface-active dispersing agent and a powdered solid carrier.

As a soil treatment the amount of the chemical applied to the seed or crop rows will be from 0.1 to 10 pounds per acre, applied to the crop rows, the equivalent of an area 2" wide and 2" deep to parallel rows in one direction a distance of apart. Also, as a soil treatment the chemical may be applied broadcast as a similar dust following examples using growth retardation as criterion for activity.

EXAMPLE A This example illustrates the treatment of growing plants with the chemicals of the present invention.

Water solutions or dispersions of the chemicals were prepared containing 5000 parts per million (p.p.m.) of

various chemicals of the invention and 300 ppm. of a surface-active wetting agent (polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate) which is known to be inactive in the tests run.

Peanut plants in the 2 to 3 leaf stage were sprayed to run off with aqueous compositions prepared as above containing 5000 ppm. of compound. The treated plants and untreated control plants were then placed in a chamber having humidity and a temperature of 75 F. After 24 hours, they were taken out and placed in a greenhouse. The plants were examined four weeks after the application of the chemicals. The growth regulant effect was recorded by measuring the length of the internodes of the peanut plants. The results are calculated and expressed in percent growth retardation as compared to the untreated check. They are shown in Table II:

TABLE II.GROWTH RE'l i lllglsl llfeATION IN PEANUT SPRAY Other crops such as soybeans, pinto beans, apple trees and chrysanthemum show similar growth retardation on treatment with the chemicals of the present invention.

EXAMPLE B This example illustrates the growth regulant effect on plants grown in soil which has been treated with compounds of the present invention.

256 mg. of chemical were thoroughly mixed in a glass jar with two pounds of clean, dry sand. The mixing was accomplished by vigorously shaking the jar which was covered with a screwcap. This masterbatch was then thoroughly mixed with 12 pounds of soil to give a 40 p.p.m. concentration in the sand soil mixture. The treated soil was then placed into 12 ounce styrofoam cups. Three peanut seeds, Virginia Runner variety, were planted in each cup 2 weeks after soil incorporation of the chemical using 3 replicates for each treatment. An untreated check replicated three times in which seeds were planted at the same time without chemical treatment was included in the test. The pots were then transferred to the greenhouse, kept warm and moist maintaining a greenhouse temperature of 75-85 F. Four weeks after planting the growth of the peanut plant was measured, i.e., the distance from the node of the first true leaf to the upper most leaf stipule. The results are expressed as percent growth retardation as compared with the untreated check plants (Table 111).

TABLE III.-GROWTH RETARDATION OF PEANUT PLANTS IN SOIL INCORPORATION TESTS This example illustrates the growth regulant eifect on apple trees without fruit size reduction.

Spray solutions containing 2000 p.p.m. active chemical were sprayed on year old McIntosh apple trees using one gallon per tree and 2 trees per treatment. Check trees without chemical treatment and trees sprayed with succinic acid 2,2-dimethylhydrazide were included in the test. The applications were made approximately 2 weeks after full bloom. Measurement on the new growth or shoots on the branches were taken 7 weeks later measuring the distance from the growth present at the time of spray to the tip of the shoot. Five shoots per tree were measured. The fruit was harvested and evaluated for size differences.

The results showing the length of the shoot growth and size of the apples is shown in Table IV.

TABLE IV.APPLE SPRAY TEST size (cm.) 2% 2% 2% 3 Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A compound having the formula:

wherein R and R are alkyl groups or, compositely with the nitrogen, form a l-pyrrolidyl, l-piperidyl or a 4-morpholinyl ring; and R and R are hydrogen, an alkyl group, or, compositely with the nitrogen atom, form a l-pyrrolidyl, l-piperidyl or a 4-morpholinyl ring; or, where R, is hydrogen, R is:

hydroxylalkyl,

N-dimethylamino alkyl ethyl,

amino,

RNHCO- where R is hydrogen or a lower alkyl,

phenyl,

naphthyl,

substituted phenyl or naphthyl,

wherein the substituents are from 1 to 3 halogen, lower alkoxy, phenoxy, lower alkyl, phenyl, naphthyl, cyano, carboxyl, carbomethoxy, acetoxy, hydroxyl, or nitro groups;

the aforesaid alkyl, hydroxyalkyl and aminoalkyl groups having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms and the aforesaid lower alkyl and alkoxy groups having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms.

2. A compound of claim 1 wherein R and R are methyl.

3. A compound of claim 1 wherein R is hydrogen and R is phenyl or a phenyl group having a halogen, lower alkoxy, phenoxy, lower alkyl, phenyl, cyano, carboxyl, hydroxyl, or nitro substitution.

4. A compound of claim 3 wherein the substitution on the phenyl group is on the orthoor paraposition.

5. The compound of claim 1 wherein R and R are methyl, R is hydrogen and R is 2-chlorophenyl.

6. The compound of claim 1 wherein R and R are methyl, R is hydrogen and R is o-tolyl.

7. The compound of claim 1 wherein R and R are methyl, R is hydrogen and R is o-ethoxyphenyl.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,064,051 11/1962 Sprague et al. 260-561 3,062,881 11/1962 Gutmann 260561 3,450,673 6/1969 McKillip 260558 OTHER REFERENCES Szmuszkovicz et al., J. Med. & Pharm. Chem., vol. 4,

HENRY R. JILES, Primary Examiner H. I. MOATZ, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

2602 47.2 A, 247.7 H, 294 A, 294.7 E, 326 R, 326 N, 326 A, 326.3, 326.85, 465 D, 471 R, 488 CD, 518 R, 553 R, 553 C, 553 E, 558 H, 558 A, 559 H, 561 H, 561 K; 71--88, 94, 95, 105, 106, 111, 114, 118, 119,

zg gg UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3, 15 ,6 Dated January 97 lnventofls) Howard A. Hageman et a1.

It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In column 6,claim 1, line 19, delete the words "N-dimethylamino alkyl ethyl", and insert instead --N-dimethylaminoalkyl- Signed and sealed this 5th day of September 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissionerof Patents 

